James Johnston (Colonel)
Encyclopedia
James Johnston was an American soldier and a member of the North Carolina Provincial Congress
.
. He was the son of Henry Johnston of Scottish
descent. He was married to Jane Ewart, the daughter of Robert Ewart. James Johnston was an early patriot of Tryon County
, North Carolina
. Later Lincoln County
, North Carolina
. James first entered the service of his country, as a captain of a company in the Winter of 1776,under then colonel William Graham. He was in many notable battles, but his most famous battle was the battle of Kings Mountain
. In this battle he led the rear guard,as one of ten colonels. This rear guard consisted of about 90 men, under his command. He was called into the battle within the first 20 minutes of battle. He and his fellow colonels had a complete victory over the British
and Tory
forces. His militia
unit was from the Mecklenburg
military district. In his later life he was chosen as a delegate to the North Carolina
, Provincial Congress
, which met on the 4th of April in 1776. He was a fellow delegate with colonel Charles McLean.
North Carolina Provincial Congress
The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government.-First Provincial Congress:...
.
Biography
Colonel James Johnston was born (ca.1742 and died on July 23, 1805) in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was the son of Henry Johnston of Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
descent. He was married to Jane Ewart, the daughter of Robert Ewart. James Johnston was an early patriot of Tryon County
Tryon County
Tryon County is the name of two former counties in the United States:*Tryon County, New York- 1772-1784*Tryon County, North Carolina- 1768-1779...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Later Lincoln County
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. James first entered the service of his country, as a captain of a company in the Winter of 1776,under then colonel William Graham. He was in many notable battles, but his most famous battle was the battle of Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain may refer to:*Kings Mountain, California, an unincorporated community in San Mateo County*Kings Mountain, North Carolina, a city in North Carolina...
. In this battle he led the rear guard,as one of ten colonels. This rear guard consisted of about 90 men, under his command. He was called into the battle within the first 20 minutes of battle. He and his fellow colonels had a complete victory over the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
forces. His militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
unit was from the Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
military district. In his later life he was chosen as a delegate to the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Provincial Congress
Provincial Congress
"Provincial Congress" can refer to one of several extra-legal legislative bodies established in some of the Thirteen Colonies early in the American Revolution...
, which met on the 4th of April in 1776. He was a fellow delegate with colonel Charles McLean.